Solar and Stellar Astrophysics (astro-ph.SR)

Abstract: French astronomer Honor\'e Flaugergues compiled astronomical observations in a series of hand-written notebooks for 1782$\unicode{x2013}$1830, which are preserved at Paris Observatory. We reviewed these manuscripts and encoded the records that contain sunspot measurements into a numerical table for further analysis. All measurements are timings and we found three types of measurements allowing the reconstruction of heliographic coordinates. In the first case, the Sun and sunspots cross vertical and horizontal wires, in the second case, one vertical and two mirror-symmetric oblique wires, and in the third case, a rhombus-shaped set of wires. Additionally, timings of two solar eclipses also provided a few sunspot coordinates. As a result, we present the time--latitude (butterfly) diagram of the reconstructed sunspot coordinates, which covers the period of the Dalton Minimum and confirms consistency with those of Derfflinger and Prantner. We identify four solar cycles in this diagram and discuss the observed peculiarities as well as the data reliability.

Abstract: Determining the mechanism responsible for the plasma heating and particle acceleration is a fundamental problem in the study of the heliosphere. Due to efficient wave-particle interactions of ion-scale waves with charged particles, these waves are widely believed to be a major contributor to ion energization, and their contribution considerably depends on the wave occurrence rate. By analyzing the radial distribution of quasi-monochromatic ion-scale waves observed by the Parker Solar Probe, this work shows that the wave occurrence rate is significantly enhanced in the near-Sun solar wind, specifically 21%$-$29% below 0.3 au, in comparison to 6%$-$14% beyond 0.3 au. The radial decrease of the wave occurrence rate is not only induced by the sampling effect of a single spacecraft detection, but also by the physics relating to the wave excitation, such as the enhanced ion beam instability in the near-Sun solar wind. This work also shows that the wave normal angle $\theta$, the absolute value of ellipticity $\epsilon$, the wave frequency $f$ normalized by the proton cyclotron frequency $f_{\mathrm{cp}}$, and the wave amplitude $\delta B$ normalized by the local background magnetic field $B_0$ slightly vary with the radial distance. The median values of $\theta$, $|\epsilon|$, $f$, and $\delta B$ are about $9^\circ$, $0.73$, $3f_{\mathrm{cp}}$, and $0.01B_0$, respectively. Furthermore, this study proposes that the wave mode nature of the observed left-handed and right-handed polarized waves corresponds to the Alfv\'en ion cyclotron mode wave and the fast-magnetosonic whistler mode wave, respectively.

Abstract: Blue stragglers are anomalously luminous core hydrogen-burning stars formed through mass-transfer in binary/triple systems and stellar collisions. Their physical and evolutionary properties are largely unknown and unconstrained. Here we analyze 320 high-resolution spectra of blue stragglers collected in eight galactic globular clusters with different structural characteristics and show evidence that the fraction of fast rotating blue stragglers (with rotational velocities larger than 40 km/s) increases for decreasing central density of the host system. This trend suggests that fast spinning blue stragglers prefer low-density environments and promises to open an unexplored route towards understanding the evolutionary processes of these stars. Since large rotation rates are expected in the early stages of both formation channels, our results provide direct evidence for recent blue straggler formation activity in low-density environments and put strong constraints on the timescale of the collisional blue straggler slow-down processes.

Abstract: Coronal mass ejections (CMEs) are violent ejections of magnetized plasma from the Sun, which can trigger geomagnetic storms, endanger satellite operations and destroy electrical infrastructures on the Earth. After systematically searching Sun-as-a-star spectra observed by the Extreme-ultraviolet Variability Experiment (EVE) onboard the Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) from May 2010 to May 2022, we identified eight CMEs associated with flares and filament eruptions by analyzing the blue-wing asymmetry of the O III 52.58 nm line profiles. Combined with images simultaneously taken by the 30.4 nm channel of the Atmospheric Imaging Assembly onboard SDO, the full velocity and propagation direction for each of the eight CMEs are derived. We find a strong correlation between geomagnetic indices (Kp and Dst) and the angle between the CME propagation direction and the Sun-Earth line, suggesting that Sun-as-a-star spectroscopic observations at EUV wavelengths can potentially help to improve the prediction accuracy of the geoeffectiveness of CMEs. Moreover, an analysis of synthesized long-exposure Sun-as-a-star spectra implies that it is possible to detect CMEs from other stars through blue-wing asymmetries or blueshifts of spectral lines.

Abstract: The solar corona produces coronal rain, hundreds of times colder and denser material than the surroundings. Coronal rain is known to be deeply linked to coronal heating, but its origin, dynamics, and morphology are still not well understood. The leading theory for its origin is thermal instability (TI) occurring in coronal loops in a state of thermal non-equilibrium (TNE), the TNE-TI scenario. Under steady heating conditions, TNE-TI repeats in cycles, leading to long-period EUV intensity pulsations and periodic coronal rain. In this study, we investigate coronal rain on the large spatial scales of an active region (AR) and over the long temporal scales of EUV intensity pulsations to elucidate its distribution at such scales. We conduct a statistical study of coronal rain observed over an AR off-limb with IRIS and SDO imaging data, spanning chromospheric to transition region (TR) temperatures. The rain is widespread across the AR, irrespective of the loop inclination, and with minimal variation over the 5.45-hour duration of the observation. Most rain has a downward ($87.5\%$) trajectory; however, upward motions ($12.5\%$) are also ubiquitous. The rain dynamics are similar over the observed temperature range, suggesting that the TR and chromospheric emission are co-located on average. The average clump widths and lengths are similar in the SJI channels and wider in the AIA 304 channel. We find ubiquitous long-period EUV intensity pulsations in the AR. Short-term periodicity is found (16 min) linked to the rain appearance, which constitutes a challenge to explain under the TNE-TI scenario.

Abstract: The operation of the solar dynamo, with all of its remarkable spatio-temporal ordering, remains an outstanding problem of modern solar physics. A number of mechanisms that might plausibly contribute to its operation have been proposed, but the relative role played by each remains unclear. This uncertainty stems from continuing questions concerning the speed and structure of deep-seated convective flows. Those flows are in-turn thought to sustain both the Sun's turbulent EMF and the large-scale flows of differential rotation and meridional circulation suspected of influencing the dynamo's organization and timing. Continued progress in this area is complicated by (i) inconsistencies between helioseismic measurements of convective and meridional flow made with different techniques and instruments, and (ii) a lack of high-latitude data for convection, differential rotation, and meridional flow. We suggest that the path forward to resolving these difficulties is twofold. First, the acquisition of long-term helioseismic and emissivity measurements obtained from a polar vantage point is vital to complete our picture of the Sun's outer convection zone. Second, sustained and expanded investment in theory-oriented and combined theory/observational research initiatives will be crucial to fully exploit these new observations and to resolve inconsistencies between existing measurements.

Abstract: We present the discovery of TOI-1994b, a low-mass brown dwarf transiting a hot subgiant star on a moderately eccentric orbit. TOI-1994 has an effective temperature of $7700^{+720}_{-410}$ K, V magnitude of 10.51 mag and log(g) of $3.982^{+0.067}_{-0.065}$. The brown dwarf has a mass of $22.1^{+2.6}_{-2.5}$ $M_J$, a period of 4.034 days, an eccentricity of $0.341^{+0.054}_{-0.059}$, and a radius of $1.220^{+0.082}_{-0.071}$ $R_J$. TOI-1994b is more eccentric than other transiting brown dwarfs with similar masses and periods. The population of low mass brown dwarfs may have properties similar to planetary systems if they were formed in the same way, but the short orbital period and high eccentricity of TOI-1994b may contrast this theory. An evolved host provides a valuable opportunity to understand the influence stellar evolution has on the substellar companion's fundamental properties. With precise age, mass, and radius, the global analysis and characterization of TOI-1994b augments the small number of transiting brown dwarfs and allows the testing of substellar evolution models.